Teda often ntions Alice when working, even saying that when Alice is old enough to stand on her own she might replace him as the new Sublimation Furnace Core Minister. At that ti, Teda would be able to set aside these tedious affairs and imrse himself completely in research, like previous ministers.
Therefore, Belli and Balder are not seeing Alice for the first ti; they have heard her famous na from their teacher’s endless lectures. Simply put, in terms everyone can understand, Alice is "soone else’s child."
"But is it really possible to implant ahead of ti?" Balder queried softly.
In the Alchemists’ research, the origin of the soul remains a mystery continuing from ancient tis, yet Alchemists have discovered so patterns despite the enigmatic nature of the soul.
When children are born, their souls aren’t stable, like an indistinct mist difficult to consolidate into form. But as they age, their souls gradually stabilize, reaching full stability at eighteen, like soft soil turning into hard stone.
Thus, eighteen years is regarded as the mark of soul formation and adulthood. Many implantation rituals occur when subjects reach adulthood, but in so ancient Extraordinary Clans, they possess extrely secret knowledge and perform implants differently, though these are just isolated cases.
Balder glanced at Alice behind them and then asked, "She’s only sixteen; her soul hasn’t fully stabilized yet."
"You know, Balder, sotis rules must give way to genius," Teda said confidently. "And besides, the implantation ceremony is under my direction, with the Sublimation Furnace Core supporting from behind."
With the Sublimation Furnace Core Minister personally in charge, the whole departnt backs him, making it beyond lavish, a feat even so Extraordinary Clans struggle to match.
Balder seed to nod slightly, aware of his own personality flaw of excessive caution, completely opposite to Belli’s impulsive nature. Teda often remarked that their working together was the perfect complent.
With the teacher present and the entire Sublimation Furnace Core backing up, there was nothing to worry about.
Teda understood Balder’s concerns; initially, he shared the sa thoughts, but Alice couldn’t wait anymore. She was weary of Teda’s teachings and craved deeper, more obscure knowledge.
This knowledge exists only within the Sublimation Furnace Core, yet before she could enter, she needed first to beco a Condenser, join the Order Bureau, and be part of the Secret Energy faction, opening the path toward the "Secret Source."
Teda frequently glanced at Alice, consistently feeling that she would propel the world’s history, deepening Alchemists’ understanding of the "Secret Source."
With these thoughts, he was enveloped in beautiful anticipation, but the next second, an ear-piercing alarm shattered the dream. Alarm bells clanged and blinding red warning lights flashed continuously.
Before anyone had managed to understand what happened, the "Cultivation Room" started writhing violently, as ergency passage doors appeared from thin air. After a brief panic, everyone entered the unknown doors in accordance with protocol.
For many, it was the first ti the "Cultivation Room" opened ergency passages leading to shelters; for Teda, it was the sa, this situation happening for the first ti since the establishnt of the Order Bureau.
Though people tried to remain calm, the continuously collapsing "Cultivation Room" nevertheless instigated fear among the crowd. Everyone understood the mystique and power of the "Cultivation Room," yet despite seeming impregnable, it crumbled under so forceful attack.
Waves of Ether siphoned out from within the "Cultivation Room," rushing towards a certain point, along with fading the densely patterned bricks. Deprived of Ether’s support, they too turned into ordinary stone, falling and collapsing.
Massive stones crushed many people, blood-soaked cries echoing nonstop. Many Ether facilities malfunctioned in the Ether vacuum condition, so directly causing explosions.
Columns of fire erupted, hot tal shards rained down like dense bullets, slicing through whatever flesh they struck.
"Get out of the way!"
Balder shouted as he pushed Belli aside. Being close to the ergency passage, Belli was thrown directly to the side of the passage by Balder’s forceful shove. Then another loud explosion occurred, fiery light engulfing Balder.
Dim light flickered across Balder’s body; he attempted to activate Secret Energy to protect himself, but upon trying, found his "Rectangular Soul Critical" had already been breached, leaving no trace of Ether within.
What terrified Balder even more was that the entire Sublimation Furnace Core was in this utter Ether vacuum; neither Condensers’ Ether nor Alchemy Armant’s strength remained, as if so tyrant power descended, ravaging everything.
The Protective Clothing ant for safeguarding the body began disintegrating; essentially Alchemy Armant, it fell apart as its material’s Ether was seized.
Balder thought he was dood, flas scorched his flesh, consciousness fading when a large hand reached into the fiery abyss and dragged him out.
"Go quickly!"
Teda scread as he hurled Balder away. Though just a scientific personnel, Teda was indeed a Negative Power User, possessing strength to resist against this oppressive force.
Balder slamd heavily against the wall, burns covering his body, but thankfully the helt wasn’t shattered, preserving his head. Belli reached out to grasp him, no need for thanks now, she pulled Balder into the ergency passage.
Teda breathed painfully; being able to act under such power ant he bore unimaginable pressure. The high temperatures engulfed the Sublimation Furnace Core as if he stood at a volcano’s mouth, each breath bringing intense scorching pain.
"Are you okay, Alice?"
Teda cried out the girl’s na; when the collapse occurred, he imdiately embraced Alice, radiating dazzling light trails. Under the drive of Illusion Creation, extre cold pushed back the heat and resisted imminent dangers.
Alice did not respond; like a kitten, she quietly lay on Teda’s shoulder, with her face exposed gradually as the Protective Clothing disintegrated, shattered.
Amid the roaring death impulse, Alice’s gaze was dazed and hollow, like a puppet stripped of its soul.
She watched.
From within the tearing apart of the "Cultivation Room," in the apocalyptic scene, the Celestial God-like figure descended amid the destroying Thunder, under his authority, all things collapsing.
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